Roll header



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A TTORNE Y5 United States Patent 3,393,492 ROLL HEADER David E. Lanion and Henry Paull, Jr., Appleton, Wis., as-

signors to Appleton Machine Company, a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,976

' 2 Claims. (Cl. 53137) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for applying headers to the ends of large cylindrical bodies including platens on which headers to be applied are held by a vacuum and which are advanced towards the end of the body to apply the headers to either end of the cylindrical body with a selected force to insure adhesion of the headers to the cylindrical body. After adhesion of the headers, the vacuum is released and the platens are retracted allowing for ejection of the wrapped and headed cylindrical body from the apparatus.

This invention relates to roll headers and more particularly to apparatus for applying headers to protect the ends of rolls of web material.

In the production of web material, such as paper, the web is often formed into large cylindrical bodies or rolls. Rolls are conveniently stored and shipped and the web material can be easily fed from the roll when it is to be used. In the storage and shipment of rolls, there is an ever present danger of damage to the roll as a result of the roll colliding with other surfaces or objects. Typical damage includes penetration of the surface of the roll or crushing of the ends of the roll, whereby the portion of the web material so damaged becomes unusable for its intended purpose.

In order to protect against this type of damage, it is generally the practice to wrap the roll in a heavy protective covering. The wrapping is folded and crimped against the end of the rolls and a heavier piece is then attached over the crimped and folded wrapper to seal .it in place.

It should be noted that the wrapping used to protect these rolls has a heavy, almost cardboard-like texture, and is not very easy to handle. Thus, even after it is folded and crimped against the end of the roll, the wrapper tends to return to its natural unfolded shape. In addition, the size of the rolls, typically ranging from 3 to 8 feet in length and from 1 to 3 feet in diameter, also makes handling and wrapping of the roll a difiicult procedure.

Apparatus for supplying wrapping material to a roll and for wrapping a roll and crimping and holding the wrapper against the ends of a roll are disclosed in copending applications for Web Supply, Ser. No. 479,824, filed Aug. 16, 1965, now Patent No. 3,386,672, and for Roll Wrapper, Ser. No. 484,021, filed Aug. 31, 1965, both of which are assigned to the same assignee as this application.

Devices, as illustrated in the aforementioned copending applications, are capable of automatically applying a wrapper to the surface of the roll and of crimping the wrapper over the edges of the roll and against the ends thereof. After such a roll has been wrapped; it is usually the practice to apply protective end pieces or headers on the ends of the roll over the folded wrapper to keep the wrapper in place and to further protect the end of the roll.

By the present invention, there is provided apparatus for properly positioning a roll as it arrives in the apparatus for application of headers; for applying headers to either end of the roll with a preselected force to insure adhesion I of the headers to the roll; for automatically retracting the header applicating means from the roll after application of the headers; and for subsequently ejecting the completely wrapped and headed roll from the apparatus in condition for storage or shipment.

' More specifically, when a roll of paper, for example, rolls into theheader apparatus, it engages an inclined roll stop assembly which causes it to drop into a trough aligned with a pair of opposed header applicating mechanisms on either side of the roll. Headers with adhesive on their open face, are placed on the front surface or platen of the mechanism. Each header is held against the platen by suction effected by drawing a vacuum through a plurality of small holes in the surface of the platen. When the header applicating mechanisms are energized, they converge towards the roll 'until the platens come into contact with the roll ends to apply the headers thereto.

The header applicating mechanisms continue to receive power afterthe platens'ma'ke con-tact with the roll until a preselected back pressure has been achieved. Atthis time the vacuum is cut off in order to break the suction holding the headers against the platens. The headers-are held in place against the ends of the roll by the adhesive and by the pressure of the platen under the force'ofthe heading mechanism until the adhesive has had a chance to set. A predetermined time interval afterthe desired back pressure is achieved, the heading mechanism automatically retracts to withdraw the platens from the ends of the roll. When the platens are completely retracted, the roll is ejected from the apparatus.

-Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and one embodiment thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings in which each and every detail shown.

is fully and completely disclosed as a part of this specification, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the over-all relationship between the headers to be applied and the ends of a roll that has been wrapped;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the roll header apparatus of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the apparatus of the present invention shown with a roll of web material positioned on the trough in the apparatus;

FIGURE 4 is a cross section of the roll header apparatus taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and showing more clearly the roll stop and ejection mechanism; and

' FIGURE 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical control circuitry for the roll header apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a roll 10 which has been wrapped and on which the wrapper 12 has been folded and crimped against both ends 14. In order to complete the wrapping and fully protect the roll headers 16, which conveniently are paper or cardboardlike pieces having substantially the same shape as the ends 14 of the roll 10, are applied to both ends over the crimped and folded wrapper 12 to seal it against the ends of the roll.

The roll header apparatus for accomplishing this is shown most clearly in FIGURES 2 and 3, wherein the roll 10, which may have been discharged from a suit able roll wrapping apparatus, advances along a surface in the direction of the arrows 18 of FIGURE 2 and enters the apparatus. The roll 10 passes over a plurality of rollers 20 arranged in two sets 22, 24 canted at opposite angles to form a trough 26 along the center of the rollers 20 (see FIGURE 4).

' A plurality of pivotable normally flush ejector arms 28 interspersed between the rollers 20 are splined to a pivot shaft 30. The lower end of one of the ejector arms 28 is connected to the piston 32 of an eject air cylinder 34 which, when energized, operates to pivot the ejector arms 28 up to position 28' to eject a roll from the apparatus as explained in more detail hereinbelow.

As the roll passes over the rollers and flush ejector arms 28, it comes into contact with one or more normally raised members 36 of a roll-stop assembly 38 which cause the roll 10 to drop back into the trough 26 in proper position for application of the headers. The roll stop members 36 are splined to a common shaft 40. The lower end of one member 36 is connected to the piston rod 42 of a roll stop control cylinder 44 which operates in synchronization with the eject cylinder 34 to drop the roll stop members 36 flush to the horizontal surface when a roll 10 is ejected.

When a roll 10 is in place, each header 16 to be attached to the end of the roll 10 is placed on an applicator surface or platen 46 which defines one wall of a vacuum chamber 48 making up part of the header applicating mechanism 50. The header 16 is held in place on each platen 46 by suction at a plurality of holes in the surface of each platen created by energizing an ex-hauster 52 coupled to each vacuum chamber through a telescoping cylinder 54.

Each exhauster 52 is energized by momentarily closing switches 56, 58, respectively in each leg 60, 62 of the exhauster vacuum control circuit 64 shown in FIGURE 5. The left exhauster 52 is started by closing the left vacuum-on switch 56. When this switch is closed, the control circuit 64 across the power supply, indicated as the lines 66, 68, is completed through a vacuum control solenoid 70, a normally. closed, manual, vacuum-off switch 72, and the normally closed contacts 74a of a pressure responsive switch 74, the operation of which will be more fully explained hereunder. When the vacuum control solenoid 70 is energized, it operates to close a first set of normally open contacts 70a bypassing the start switch 56 to maintain the circuit in its energized state after the start switch 56 is released.

The right exhauster 52 is started by closing a right vacuum-on switch 58 to complete circuit 64 through a second vacuum control solenoid 76, a normally closed, manual, vacuum-off switch 78, and the normally closed contacts 74:: of the pressure responsive switch 74. As described above in regard to the vacuum left circuit 60, the energized right vacuum control solenoid 76 closes a pair of normally open bypass contacts 76a to keep the circuit 62 energized after release of the start switch 58.

When the headers 16 are in place on each platen 46, the applicating mechanism 50 is activated by closing a converge start switch 80 in the converge control circuitry '82. This completes a circuit through the normally closed contacts 84a of a manual stop switch 84, the normally closed contacts 86a of a retract control relay 86 and the coil of the converge control relay 88 thereby energizing the relay. The energized converge control relay 88 causes a first set of contacts 88a to close thereby completing a bypass circuit around the converge start switch 80 to keep the relay 88 energized after release of the start switch 80, which bypass circuit also includes the normally closed contacts 90a of time delay reverse cycle control relay 90.

The energized converge control relay also closes a second set of normally open contacts 88b in series with a converge control solenoid 92. The energized solenoid controls the operation of a pair of control valves (not shown) to activate a pair of header applicating mechanism positioning cylinders 94, whose pistons 96 are connected to the back surface of the vacuum chambers 48. These cylinders 94 cause the chambers 48 to converge on the roll 10 until the platens 46 make contact with the ends of the roll. The cylinders 94 continue to drive the platens 46 against the ends of the roll 10 until a preselected back pressure is achieved.

The pressure responsive switch 74 is responsive to the preselected back pressure to open its normally closed contacts 74a in the vacuum control circuitry thereby deactivating the vacuum control relays 70, 76 and de-energizing the exhausters 52 to release the suction on the headers 16. Simultaneously, the normally open contacts 74b of the pressure responsive switch 74 are closed to complete a circuit through the time delay reverse cycle control relay 90. A time delay relay is one that does not operate for a predetermined time after it has been energized. Thus, although the vacuum has been turned off, the cylinders 94 continue to apply pressure to the platens 46 so the adhesive on the surface of the header 16 will have time to set.

After the delay timehas passed, the time delay relay operates to open the normally closed contacts 90a in the converge control circuit thereby de-energizing the converge control relay 88. The converge relay contacts 88b, in series with the converge solenoid 92, are therefore opened thereby de-energizing the solenoid and deactivating the positioning cylinders 94.

Simultaneously, the time delay reverse cycle relay 90 closes a set of normally open contacts 90b in the retract control circuitry 98. This completes the retract control circuit through the normally closed terminals 100a of a jog open switch 100, the normally closed terminals 84b of stop switch 84, the normally closed contacts 102a of a pair of end cycle interlocks 102 and the coil of the retract control relay 86, thereby energizing the relay.

The energized retract control relay 86 opens the normally closed contacts 86a in the converge circuitry 82 (for the reasons to be explained hereafter), closes the normally open contacts 86b to bypass the contacts 90b of the reverse cycle relay 90 and closes the normally closed contacts 860 in series with the retract control solenoid 104. The retract control solenoid 104 operates a solenoid valve (not shown) to reverse the operation of the positioning cylinders 94. The cylinders 94 now operate to retract the header applicating mechanisms 50 and the platens 46 from the ends of the roll 10 leaving the headers 16 firmly attached thereto.

Before continuing with the description, it should be noted that the retract control circuit 98 is provided with a manual jog switch 100 which, when depressed, can interrupt the cycle of operation causing the positioning cylinder 94 to reverse operation and retract the platens 46. If, for example, the jog switch is depressed while the platens are converging, a set of normally open contacts 100b are closed completing circuit 98. The energized retract control relay 86 will operate as described above to deactivate the converge control circuit 82 and energize the retract control solenoid 104.

As the platens 46 are retracted from the ends of the roll 10, the back pressure against the cylinder 94 drops and the pressure responsive switch 74 is deactivated to return to its normal position, thereby resetting the vacuum control circuit 64 and the time delay reverse cycle control relay 90.

When the platens have been completely retracted, they each engage an arm 106 of an interlock switch 102. The contacts 102a of the interlock switches are connected in parallel with each other and in series with the retract control circuit 98. When both of these switches are opened, the retract control relay 86 is de-energized thereby opening its contacts 86c in series with the retract solenoid 104 to de-energize the entire roll header apparatus and complete the cycle of operation. Each of these interlock switches 102 is also provided with a normally open contact 102b electrically connected in series in the eject control circuit 108. These contacts 102b are closed only when the platens 46 are in the completely retracted position. This prevents inadvertent ejection of the roll 10 while any portion of the heading mechanism is in position to be dam aged by the ejector arms 28.

When the platens 46 have been completely retracted and the normally open interlock switch contacts 10% in the eject circuit 108 are closed, the roll 10 may be ejected from the roll header apparatus by closing the eject switch 110. This completes a circuit through the now closed interlock contacts 102b, the normally closed contacts of an eject reset switch 112 and the eject control relay 114. This relay operates to close a pair of normally open C011- tacts 114a to bypass the eject start switch 110 and also closes a pair of normally open contacts 114b in series with an eject solenoid 116. The solenoid 116 acts through a control valve (not shown) to energize the eject cylinder 34 causing its piston 32 to retract, thereby pivoting the arms 28 about the pivot shaft 30 up against the roll to eject it from the apparatus.

Simultaneously, the eject solenoid 116 also controls another valve (not shown) to energize the roll stop control cylinder 46 causing it to retract its piston 42, thereby pivoting the roll stop members 36 down to a position even with the surface over which the roll 10 passes as it is ejected from the apparatus.

When the ejector arms 28 reach full eject position 28, the arm 118 of a reset switch 112 is engaged to open the normally closed contacts 112a in series with the eject control circuit 108. This deactivates the eject control relay 114; opens the contacts 114]; in series with the eject solenoid 116 to de-energize the cylinders 34, 44; and thereby allows the roll stop members 36 and eject arms 28 to return to their original positions.

Thus there has been described an apparatus capable of positioning various size large rolls automatically so that headers may be applied to either ends of the rolls; which is capable of applying headers to the ends of the rolls and for automatically retracting the header applicating mechanism after the headers have been applied with a preselected pressure, and which is capable of ejecting the completely wrapped and headed roll from the apparatus.

It will be readily observed from the foregoing detailed description of the invention and of the illustrated embodiment thereof that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts and principles of this invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for applying headers to the end of a wrapped roll comprising in combination a trough defined by a plurality of rollers for properly positioning a roll within the apparatus, a raised stop assembly adjacent to said trough for stopping a roll entering the apparatus in said trough, a platen for supporting a header to be applied to the roll, means for applying a suction to the surface of said platen to hold a header in place thereon, converge control circuit means, means responsive to a signal generated by said converge control circuit means for advancing the platen towards the end of the roll so said platen makes contact therewith and for driving said platen against the roll until a selected back pressure is achieved, retract circuit means, and pressure sensitive switch means responsive to said selected pressure for de-energizing said suction applying means and for energizing said retract circuit means responsive for reversing the operation of said advancing means to retract said platen from the roll after headers have been applied thereto.

2. Roll header apparatus comprising a raised assembly for stopping a roll entering the apparatus, a trough for receiving the roll to position it for application of headers, a pair of header applicating mechanisms disposed at either end of the roll, each mechanism including a vacuum chamber, a platen having a plurality of holes therein forming one Wall of said chamber, an exhauster coupled to said chamber and responsive to a first signal for drawing a vacuum through the chamber to create suction at the surface of said platen to hold a header in place thereon, and a positioning cylinder having its piston connected to said chamber and responsive to second and third signals for advancing and retracting said chamber relative to the roll, vacuum control circuit means, switch means for energizing said vacuum control circuit means to provide said first signal initiating operation of said exhausters, converge control circuit means, switch means for energizing said converge control circuit means to provide the second signal initiating operation of said positioning cylinders to advance said platens towards the roll, pressure switch means responsive to a selected increase in back pressure developed in said cylinder after the platens have come in contact with the roll for de-energizing said vacuum control circuit means and for energizing time delay cycle control circuit means, said energized cycle control circuit means operable after a selected time interval to de-energize said converge control circuit means and to energize retract control circuit means, said energized retract control circuit means providing the third signal for reversing the operation of said positioning cylinders to withdraw said platen from the roll, a plurality of ejector arms disposed in said trough, eject circuit means, and means for energizing said eject circuit means, and means responsive to said energized eject circuit means for simultaneously pivoting said eject arms against the roll to eject it from the apparatus and for withdrawing said raised assembly from the path of the ejected roll.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,110,814 3/1938 Parsons 53-137 2,674,074 4/1954 Lancaster et al. 53-137 X 2,681,534 6/1954 Way 53l37 X 3,286,439 11/1966 Martin et a1. 53380 3,290,861 12/1966 Prager 53214 WILLIAM W. DYER, IR., Primary Examiner. N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

